This Week’s Monday Mystery Movie Wasn’t What I Hoped It Would Be, But I Ended Up Loving It

Lately, I’ve been going to the Monday mystery movie nights at my local cinema. It’s fun to mix things up a bit and add an element of surprise to my movie-watching routine, given that I’ve caught quite a few films from 2025 so far this year.

On Monday evenings, these mystery movies are shown at various movie theaters under different names like AMC Screen Unseen or Marcus Mystery Movie. Essentially, you’re paying a lower price to watch a film whose title remains unknown until the screening begins. From my experience, it seems that the same movie is being screened across multiple theater chains. The title of the movie is kept secret, making it an exciting surprise for viewers who attend. All that’s revealed in advance are the movie’s rating, general length, and whether or not it falls under the horror genre.

I Hoped I’d See Nobody 2, But I Guessed Wrong

My experiences at the “Mystery Movie Monday” events have generally been enjoyable, regardless of whether I correctly predict the film or not. For instance, this week, as the release date for “Nobody 2” is upcoming on the weekend, I speculated that it could be the sequel starring Bob Odenkirk, given its R-rating and the hinted mystery movie. Interestingly, while “Relay” doesn’t hit theaters until August 22nd, I hadn’t even thought about it as a possibility – though now I understand that the exact timing of the mystery film can sometimes vary.

In simpler terms, I approached the screening with the hope of watching “Nobody 2,” but I usually go into these screenings with an open mind, thinking “I’ll take what I get.” Predicting correctly is enjoyable, but finding a hidden gem – a movie I hadn’t heard about or planned to watch – and enjoying it is even better. I understand that I’m rolling a figurative dice and hoping for the best with these screenings, much like everyone does when they go to a movie. Not knowing exactly what we’re going to see just adds to the excitement. If you’re very particular about the movies you watch, this might not be your cup of tea.

Prior to this past Monday, my last Monday Mystery Movie screening was _The Life of Chuck_, a film I had eagerly anticipated following Eric’s glowing review. As expected, it did not disappoint and I was lucky to catch it ahead of its theatrical debut. (It seems TopMob’s Laura Hurley accidentally watched it twice due to her Monday Mystery Movie experience, but that tale is for another day.)

Now Let’s Talk About Relay, Because Wow

This past week, I had anticipated watching a specific film, but instead found myself enjoying an entirely different one – “Relay”. It turned out to be a thrilling, entertaining movie that I thoroughly enjoyed, especially while experiencing it in a cinema setting among an audience.

Under the guidance of director David Mackenzie, the film titled “Relay” features Riz Ahmed in a covert role, assisting individuals in making discreet deals with companies that often conceal questionable activities. The term “relay” refers to the anonymous and confidential phone service he employs to interact with clients. After discovering incriminating documents from her previous workplace that threaten to disclose research findings they wish to suppress, Lily James’ character seeks Ahmed’s help. As a result of possessing these documents, she is subjected to unbearable harassment by the company. To resolve her predicament, Ahmed takes up the task and the suspenseful storyline unfolds. Sam Worthington portrays the antagonist leading the team responsible for the relentless persecution, aiming to recover the incriminating documents on behalf of the company. You can watch the trailer here:

For the past two Monday Mystery Movie showings, my theater has consistently been buzzing with activity even on a weeknight. It seems that people in my local area are quite eager for mystery films. The air of suspense during this particular screening was noticeably thick, making the experience all the more thrilling.

Initially, this movie wasn’t high on my list of interest, but watching it revealed that it premiered at TIFF in 2024, and now, with 28 reviews, it boasts an impressive 82% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. These Monday Mystery Movie screenings are a joy to me because I don’t particularly fancy going out on Mondays. Yet, this element of surprise is something I crave in my life. I’m unsure if I would have opted for Relay at the cinema otherwise, but it was an enjoyable cinematic experience.

On this coming Friday, August 22nd, you’ll find the movie “Relay” in theaters. If it appeals to your taste in films, I highly recommend checking it out! The cast delivers an impressive performance, and the backdrop of New York City is captivating. Additionally, it kept me on my toes with its intriguing plot twists.

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2025-08-13 23:59